Julie James of El Paso-Gridley led the area girls at the Class 1A state track and field meet by advancing to the finals in two events at O’Brien Stadium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University Thursday.

James was one of two Titans to move on to Saturday’s finals. Also advancing were Mattie Buchanan of EPG, Kacy Murphy of Dwight and Fieldcrest’s Tessa Holland and Maria Baldwin.

James and Baldwin moved on in the same event after each placed second in their respective heats. Baldwin had the faster time in the 1,600-meter run at 5 minutes, 19.71 seconds. James had a time of 5:20.85.

It was the second event of the day for James, who won her heat in the 800 run to automatically qualify. James was clocked at 2:18.57, which was second fastest among all the runners. Cassie Mundekis of Midwest Central had the fastest run at 2:18.4.

Holland qualified for the finals in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.85 seconds.

Fieldcrest’s Abbie Fuller was the other area runner to compete on the track. She had a time of 28.34 seconds in the 200 dash.

Murphy cleared the qualifying height for the finals in the pole vault by going 9 feet, 9 inches. There were 15 vaulters to make the qualifying height.

Buchanan competed in two events in the field. She advanced in the shot put with a push of 37-3/4. Her discus toss of 104-2 did not qualify her for Saturday’s finals.